Larry Dalton and the National Philharmonic Orchestra of London
In Excelsis Deo
Reviewed by Tammy A. Shoup
In Excelsis Deo is a sweet, instrumental Christmas album, perfect for creating a holiday atmosphere anywhere. Because this album is distributed by Integrity Music, I expected a very traditional sound; classical music does a good job of expressing the traditional Christmas hymns. In Excelsis Deo is excellently performed by Larry Dalton and the National Philharmonic Orchestra. Classical music seems to lend itself to praising God; it just seems natural that these traditional Christmas melodies should be performed by an orchestra such as the National Philharmonic. A few of these melodies are blended together, such as "The Star Carol," "We Three Kings of Orient Are," and "How Brightly Beams the Morning Star," and the distinct sounds of each complement the others well. I enjoyed this album and the way traditional Christmas tunes were blended with some that were more recently composed. I was especially pleased to hear "Oh, Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel," one of my favorite Christmas hymns, blended with "Emmanuel."
Some other melodies heard on this album include "Silent Night," "Angels We Have Heard on High," "Angels From the Realms of Glory," "O Holy Night," "I Wonder as I Wander," "What Child is This," and "Good Christian Men Rejoice." It seems that this album would appeal to Christians and non-Christians alike. Christians will probably enjoy the message of the songs, and non-Christians, who may not know all the words to these melodies, will enjoy the holiday mood created by this album. I loved the orchestral sound; it seems to glitter and shine, like the lights and ornaments on the tree. I would recommend this album to anyone interested in traditional Christmas hymns. If you listen to this album long enough, you might realize that Christmas is more than just a day, it is a season to be enjoyed, and an attitude of the heart.
